Graduation aka Make Me Cry

Yesterday was a very emotional day for me. It was also a very exciting day for both of my girls. Same day, same things, very different emotions. You see, my girls “graduated” from 5th and 8th grades yesterday. My oldest is officially a freshman in high school. And my youngest, my baby, is a middle school student! It wasn’t until recently that I realized those two important steps in their education would occur at the exact same time! This is the first time in 10 years that I haven’t had a child in elementary school. And I don’t think I’m done with that phase of my life. So I’m having pretty strong urges to have another baby! But that’s another post for another day. Back to graduation!

Sassy’s school has grades kindergarten through 8th. It’s a small school where all the kids know each other and interact with all the other grades. They start each day together as a group singing. This is one of the songs they have been working on this last trimester.

It was a great ceremony, full of personalized attention to each class. Their graduating 8th graders were all featured in a slideshow with photos from birth til now. Many tears were shed! Seriously, they should have boxes of tissues set out at each row of chairs.

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Then it was OMG Becky’s turn! When I arrived at her school thirty minutes before the ceremony, this is what I found. Holy cow!

This line was not moving. I was afraid Sassy was going to get sunburnt so I made her wait in the shade.

OMG Becky had asked my the day before if she would be getting flowers at her graduation ceremony. The girl loves them! So of course, I had to bring her a bouquet.

Sassy had to smell them all for me to make sure they were worthy of the occasion.

They finally let us into the gym. Shortly after that, the graduates started filing in from two different doors on opposite sides of the gym.

This is where I cried. When I saw my daughter scanning the crowd for us, we locked eyes and she smiled. My heart burst with pride and tears started flowing.

I had a great seat with a great view, but again, a crappy camera.

The ceremony was… boring. I had expected to cry more, but I didn’t. It was a very generic ceremony with nothing personal about it. Three kids read their speeches, but the speeches were pretty much identical. Three girls sang two, mellow songs. The entire rest of the graduating students just sat and watched until they were called up to gather their certificates. I guess I was expecting more of a production or something a little more heartfelt.

After the ceremony, we found OMG Becky and Sassy quickly ambushed her with a sisterly hug. OMG Becky allowed it for once. Graduation day miracle! That or Sassy bribed her with the flower offering.

Then it was time for lunch! OMG Becky got to pick and guess where she decided she wanted to go for her special day?! My favorite restaurant for brunch! She is so my daughter!

The girls had to review all the photos I had taken from the morning while we waited for our table.

Then the food arrived!

The girls split their usual Lemon Ricotta Stuffed French Toast with Raspberry Syrup. Nirvana on a plate! And I had my standard omelet with toasted walnuts, caramelized onions and fontina cheese.

Was a great day and I think I only cried a couple of times. But it’s hard to be sad for very long when I’m with these two.

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2 thoughts on “Graduation aka Make Me Cry”

Congratulations to your girls. I am almost in the same boat as you, my oldest graduated from 8th grade, but my youngest is just going in to 5th. It’s very hard to realize that my first baby is going into high school next year :)